SUNDAY - For once we timed our travel day departure and arrival perfectly.
Check-out wasn't until 1:00PM today, but we were off the site by around 12:15PM. We have a short 60+ miles commute today and there is a 2:00PM check-in time at the Forest Service campsite where we have a reservation tonight and tomorrow night.
We don't need any gas or groceries, so we have no planned stops along the way.
SCENES FROM OUR TRAVEL DAY
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Completed in 1936, the Umpqua River Bridge was designed as a swing-span bridge.
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The entire central "green" section of the bridge swings 90° to allow tall boats to pass. This bridge is the only remaining swing-span bridge on the Oregon state highway system.
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The Suislaw River Bridge welcomes you into the south side of Florence, OR.
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Traffic was at a standstill up ahead and nobody was approaching from the other lane?
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Turns out the city of Florence was holding their 119th Annual Grand Floral Parade. It's celebrated as a Rhododendron Festival, known locally as "Rhody Days".
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It's the longest running festival in the state of Oregon.
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How serendipitous for us to be stuck in traffic on the bridge overlooking the parade route.
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Just 7-miles up the road from the parade we arrived at our campsite.
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The shallow Sutton Creek runs right behind our campsite.
MONDAY - Today is scheduled to be our sightseeing day.
We have three local attractions to visit, two of them north of the campsite and the last one is south. When we're all done it'll be time to select a restaurant in town for lunch.
Then I'll then have to get back to THE POD and write up this blogpost before bed, because tomorrow we are back on the road.
SIGHTSEEING IN AND AROUND FLORENCE, OR
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We were about 15-minutes early for our first stop so we went to this overlook instead.
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Looking north we could see the Heceta Head Lighthouse, that's our 2nd stop for today.
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Down below the overlook to the south was a colony of Steller Sea Lions.
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It's now 9:00AM so time to get back to the famous Sea Lion Caves.
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From the parking lot we could see the south overlook, but no sea lions.
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We could also see the north overlook, but again no sea lions.
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We did however spot this lone Bald Eagle on the grassy hillside.
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He gave this approaching bird a very menacing look.
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Sea Lion Caves is the only location in the world where you ride a 16-story elevator down into a sea cave to observe wild sea lions.
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The bottom of the elevator ride delivers you into the sea cave.
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The sea lions only inhabit the cave during breeding and birthing (so DEC - FEB), but they were very upfront about this before you purchase your $18 tickets.
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There was a north facing window in the cave where you could see the lighthouse, and if you looked around the corner to the left you could see sea lions out among the rocks.
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The sea lions had to share the rocks with cormorants and other sea birds.
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Down below some of the younger sea lion pups were having fun playing in the frigid water.
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While the pups were playing the older sea lions were trying to take naps up on the rocks.
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There were plenty of Sea Gulls, Cormorants and Pigeon Guillemots flying about.
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Back outside of the cave we could see the same colony of sea lions out on the rocks.
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There were many more that we couldn't see from inside the cave window.
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The sea lions had developed a surfing technique to regain access to the rocks.
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Gaining access back upon the rocks was a bit of a struggle for the sea lions.
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We are now down at the south overlook where yet another colony of sea lions are. It's a new location, but the same struggles to return to the safety of the rocks.
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The male Steller Sea Lion can grown to 9'8" in length and weigh up to 2,470 lbs.
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Can you spot the male sea lion among the much smaller females and pups.
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This pup seems to have found an easier location to get back up on the rocks.
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Are they so cute when they are sleeping?
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They appear to become a little bit cranky when they are awoken early from their nap, or maybe they just have all that renewed energy they need to get rid of.
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Well our visit to Sea Lion Caves is coming to an end. I can't imagine us ever being here in the winter months to see the sea lions inside of the cave.
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Oh yeah! We just had to buy some Marionberry products from the gift shop while in Oregon.
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Our next stop is the lighthouse, but first another photo from the roadside overlook.
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Heceta Head Lighthouse is easily the most photographed lighthouse in Oregon.
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The public is no longer along to climb the tower, but we will be able to get inside.
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Another quick look at the activity going on down on the rocks.
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These two sea lion females seem to be in a bit of a predicament. They can't go back up and it's a long slide down.
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There is a tunnel in between the overlook and the lighthouse to the north.
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At the north end of the tunnel there is the Cape Creek Bridge.
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It's a 2-story bridge.
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To get to the lighthouse you'll have to hike the .5-mile long forested trail.
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There is a elevation gain of 225' over the .5-mile trail, so it is kind of steep.
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If Heceta Head Lighthouse looks like the Umpqua Lighthouse it's because they are twins.
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No, I'm not wearing my red plaid flannel shirt today to match with the bricks.
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This is where today's public access ends. These old lighthouses just can't handle the stress of hundreds of people climbing up and down the stairs each and every day.
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Looking up you can see the base that the light sits on top of.
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Today, rooms in the Original Assistant Lightkeepers House can be rented out as a B﹠B. Sadly the nearly identical Head Lightkeepers House next door was dismantled and removed.
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The white picket fence goes around the property where both houses once stood.
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Some more photos of the 2-story Cape Creek Bridge.
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It looks like the bridge is going straight into the mountain, that's were the tunnel is.
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As seen from the east side of the bridge.
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Here you can see the top of the bridge before entering the tunnel.
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This won't be the last time we travel through this tunnel and over the bridge.
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We'll be towing THE POD through here tomorrow when we head further north.
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One more stop at the overlook, we just can't seem to get enough of this place.
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Heading south on US-101 you can see the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. It's a 40-mile long mecca for Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding enthusiasts.
The third and final sightseeing location for today is the Exploding Whale Memorial Park.
The following information comes directly from the Atlas Obscura website:
In an infamous 1970 news report, journalist Paul Linnman described a stinky situation: a sperm whale had washed ashore near Florence, Oregon. Measuring 45-feet long and weighing approximately eight tons, the decomposing whale presented a challenge for the city. Officials were left baffled by the predicament, unable to bury or burn the carcass. Their solution? Blow the thing up with dynamite.
Unfortunately for the residents of Florence, the whale did not blow out to sea as planned, nor did it break into convenient bits for seagulls to carry off. After a spectacular explosion, bystanders were horrified to find huge chunks of blubber hurtling towards their heads. A car over a quarter of a mile away was crushed under one of the pieces, and everyone present was reportedly coated in “particles of dead whale.”
To make matters worse, the explosion only exacerbated the overwhelming odor, and the Oregon State Highway Division was still faced with the problem of disposing of the considerable remains on the beach, even after a half ton of dynamite had been expended.
Fifty years later, when the city asked residents to suggest names for a new recreation area, over half voted for “Exploding Whale Memorial Park.” It would seem that despite the Highway Division’s folly, locals are just as unwilling to bury their history as workers were to bury the deceased cetacean.
The park’s mascot, an unexploded, living whale named Flo, welcomes visitors to a peaceful natural area complete with picnic tables and scenic views of the Siuslaw Dunes.
Somewhere along this sandy coast is where the whale carcass washed ashore.
Tricia had a little whimsy moment while we were here at "Exploding Whale Memorial Park".
Sightseeing is done, time for lunch and what better way to start, but with an A﹠W Root Beer Float with Root Beer flavored ice cream instead of boring vanilla. YUMMY!
Looking for our Visited States Map and Data? How about our State by State Bucket Lists or Visited Campgrounds List? If so, click on the sign below to be taken to our other website.
The entire central "green" section of the bridge swings 90° to allow tall boats to pass.
The Suislaw River Bridge welcomes you into the south side of Florence, OR.
Traffic was at a standstill up ahead and nobody was approaching from the other lane?
Turns out the city of Florence was holding their 119th Annual Grand Floral Parade.
It's the longest running festival in the state of Oregon.
How serendipitous for us to be stuck in traffic on the bridge overlooking the parade route.
Just 7-miles up the road from the parade we arrived at our campsite.
The shallow Sutton Creek runs right behind our campsite.
We were about 15-minutes early for our first stop so we went to this overlook instead.
Looking north we could see the Heceta Head Lighthouse, that's our 2nd stop for today.
It's now 9:00AM so time to get back to the famous Sea Lion Caves.
From the parking lot we could see the south overlook, but no sea lions.
We could also see the north overlook, but again no sea lions.
We did however spot this lone Bald Eagle on the grassy hillside.
He gave this approaching bird a very menacing look.
Sea Lion Caves is the only location in the world where you ride
The bottom of the elevator ride delivers you into the sea cave.
The sea lions only inhabit the cave during breeding and birthing (so DEC - FEB),
There was a north facing window in the cave where you could see the lighthouse,
The sea lions had to share the rocks with cormorants and other sea birds.
Back outside of the cave we could see the same colony of sea lions out on the rocks.
There were many more that we couldn't see from inside the cave window.
The male Steller Sea Lion can grown to 9'8" in length and weigh up to 2,470 lbs.
Are they so cute when they are sleeping?
Well our visit to Sea Lion Caves is coming to an end.
Oh yeah! We just had to buy some Marionberry products from the gift shop while in Oregon.
Our next stop is the lighthouse, but first another photo from the roadside overlook.
Heceta Head Lighthouse is easily the most photographed lighthouse in Oregon.
The public is no longer along to climb the tower, but we will be able to get inside.
Another quick look at the activity going on down on the rocks.
These two sea lion females seem to be in a bit of a predicament.
There is a tunnel in between the overlook and the lighthouse to the north.
At the north end of the tunnel there is the Cape Creek Bridge.
It's a 2-story bridge.
To get to the lighthouse you'll have to hike the .5-mile long forested trail.
There is a elevation gain of 225' over the .5-mile trail, so it is kind of steep.
If Heceta Head Lighthouse looks like the Umpqua Lighthouse it's because they are twins.
No, I'm not wearing my red plaid flannel shirt today to match with the bricks.
This is where today's public access ends. These old lighthouses just can't handle
Looking up you can see the base that the light sits on top of.
Today, rooms in the Original Assistant Lightkeepers House can be rented out as a B﹠B.
The white picket fence goes around the property where both houses once stood.
Some more photos of the 2-story Cape Creek Bridge.
It looks like the bridge is going straight into the mountain, that's were the tunnel is.
As seen from the east side of the bridge.
Here you can see the top of the bridge before entering the tunnel.
This won't be the last time we travel through this tunnel and over the bridge.
We'll be towing THE POD through here tomorrow when we head further north.
One more stop at the overlook, we just can't seem to get enough of this place.
Heading south on US-101 you can see the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
